Leucandra gossei var. mahonica Topsent, 1937

(Fig. 10J)

Leucandra gossei var. mahonica Topsent, 1937b: 1, fig. 1.

The variety was described by Topsent from Port Mahon, Menorca, the Baleares, approximate coordinates 39.89 N 4.26 E, no depth provided (type material presumably in MNHN). It was erected in an extensive comparison with the typical variety from the Celtic Seas described by Bowerbank 1862: 1095, 1864: 165, figs. 349–350, as Leucogypsia gossei. Syntypes two dried specimens BMNH 1955.11.2.38 and 41 from Sark and Torquay, United Kingdom. The speies was transferred to Leucandra by Haeckel 1872 (2): 177, confirmed by Stephens 1912: 13). Topsent also compared the present variety with the species Leucandra topsenti Breitfuss, 1929: 261 from Concarneau, W of France, approximate coordinates 47.86°N 3.93°W, tidal region (type material not identified, possibly in ZIN-RAS). The differences of the var. mahonica and the typical variety were described as shape and size of the ‘internal’ triactines (sagittal, more robust, and smaller in mahonica, more regular, thinner, and smaller in the typical variety). It is not well established, but it is here assumed to be indicative of different taxa of the subspecies level, so I propose to name this Leucandra gossei subsp. mahonica Topsent, 1937b.

Topsent declared Leucandra topsenti also a variety of L. gossei, but in view of the fact L. topsenti lacks giant diactines, whereas its distribution overlaps with L. gossei (cf. Topsent 1937b: 9), I do not follow Topsent in this and prefer to keep L. topsenti as a distinct species.